About National Marine Fisheries
VISION
The American people enjoy the riches and benefits of healthy and
diverse marine ecosystems
As a steward, NOAA Fisheries has an obligation to conserve, protect, and manage
living marine resources in a way that ensures their continuation as functioning
components of marine ecosystems, affords economic opportunities, and enhances
the quality of life for the American public.
MISSION
Stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation
and management and the promotion of healthy ecosystems
NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the management, conservation and protection
of living marine resources within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone.
NOAA Fisheries also plays a supportive and advisory role in the management of
living marine resources in coastal areas under state jurisdiction, provides scientific
and policy leadership in the international arena and implements international
conservation and management measures as appropriate.
Under this mission, the goal is to optimize the benefits of living marine
resources to the Nation through sound science and management. This requires
a balancing of multiple public needs and interests in the sustainable benefits
and use of living marine resources, without compromising the long-term biological
integrity of coastal and marine ecosystems.
Many factors, both natural and human-related, affect the status of fish stocks,
protected species and ecosystems. Although these factors cannot all be controlled,
available scientific and management tools enable the agency to have a strong
influence on many of them. Maintaining and improving the health and productivity
of these species is the heart of our stewardship mission. These activities
will maintain and enhance current and future opportunities for the sustainable
use of living marine resources as well as the health and biodiversity of their
ecosystems.
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